Religious Scholars to Debate 'Da Vinci Code' Issues
Discussion by UNC and Duke Divinity religion professors to show how different scholars approach same Scriptures
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
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Durham, N.C. -- Questions raised by the bestselling book “The Da Vinci Code,”
including the reliability of Jesus Christ’s portrayal in the Bible
and other ancient writings, will be the subject of a 7 p.m. April
25 debate in Duke Divinity School.
The event is free and open to the public.
Bart D. Ehrman, James A. Gray Distinguished Professor and chairman of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Richard B. Hays, George Washington Ivey Professor of New Testament at DukeDivinitySchool, will be the featured speakers. The discussion will be in Room 0016 of the DivinitySchool on Duke’s West Campus. A question-and-answer session will follow.
“I hope this event will provide a better understanding of how different scholars approach the same set of Scriptures differently,” said Ehrman, a scholar of the New Testament and early Christianity.
The discussion should appeal to “anyone who is interested in exploring the historical facts behind the recent bubble of excitement about ‘The Da Vinci Code,’ and students who want to begin exploring a deeper understanding of the literary form and theological purpose of the Gospels,” said Hays, whose scholarly work bridges biblical criticism and literary studies.
Ehrman is the author or editor of 20 books, including “Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why.” He helped authenticate a nearly 2,000-year-old manuscript of the Gospel of Judas unveiled earlier this month by the National Geographic Society.
Hays’ numerous articles and books include “The Moral Vision of the New Testament,” which was selected as one of the 100 most important religious books of the 20th century.
The talk is sponsored by Duke Chapel, DukeDivinitySchool, Duke Socratic Club, Graduate Christian Fellowship, InterVarisity Christian Fellowship, Navigators, Westminster Presbyterian/UCC Fellowship and the Congregation at Duke Chapel.
